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International Astronomy Day – Highland Road Park Observatory

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Are your kids interested in anything and everything science? Bring them out to Highland Road Park Observatory for the worldwide celebration of all things astronomy, physics, aeronautics, and the American space program at International Astronomy Day on May 15 from 3-11 p.m. Every year since 2007, Highland Road Park Observatory has proudly taken part in International Astronomy Day, a celebration of all things related to astronomy, physics, aeronautics, and the American space program. Old favorites and new surprises will make this International Astronomy Day a day to remember. Our family has enjoyed this annual event for years, there’s always something new to see and learn! Be sure to bring cash for food and merchandise too! 

International Astronomy Day

Saturday, 15 May from 3:00 pm to 11:00 pm
Free admission. For all ages.
Binoculars recommended after 7:30 pm

International Astronomy Day Schedule

3:15 pm to 5:15 pm = VIEWING: Sun? [Front Viewing Pad]

Our parent star (in the constellation Taurus? at this time) is put into focus. For the past few months activity—sunspots and flares—has been increasing, with the most amazing clusters and hedgerows popping up at suprising times. Utilizing a solar telescope we’ll show you an amazing view of the Sun? in hydrogen-alpha light. Any sizable flares or prominences occurring at this time will be easily seen! Distance, ~151.2 million kilometers.

4:00 pm to 9:00 pm = ADVENTURE QUEST [instructions and form at Information Table]

The frantic search game is always an IAD favorite. Gather the points to get the prizes—but should you redeem for small prizes as soon as possible, or get more points for higher level prizes? Will someone get the big prizes before you?

4:30 pm = 20OGS TOURS (session one) [Large Dome]

Patrons (in two fifteen-minute groups) will see the gears and eyepieces and Sky X program for the largest telescope on site, responsible for over forty asteroid discoveries. Patrons will also view a “road map” for the sky. {Limit three people at one time. First signed up, first served.}

4:45 pm to 8:45 pm = VIEWING: Moon [Front Viewing Pad]

During this time our closest celestial companion will be in its waxing crescent phase—illuminated in Gemini?, just west of the rising Beehive Cluster! Personal binoculars recommended. Distance ~395,000 kilometers.

5:30 pm to 6:00 pm = WARNING—COMET? APPROACHING! [Main Floor]

The alert has been sounded! The raw materials of a “dirty snowball” makes one come to life!

6:15 pm to 7:45 pm = SPACE FACES [near Pavilion]

Decorate your face with one of the planets, a comet?, a galaxy or the Sun? or Moon!

7:15 pm to 8:45 pm = MAGNIFICENT MAGNIFICATION [Main Floor]

The Scope-on-a-Rope is in action at this time for visitors to bring small objects—within reason!—to magnify.

8:00 pm to 8:30 pm = TWILIGHT SKY TOUR [Back Viewing Pad]

The Big Dipper, Arcturus and Spica…Sirius, Gemini? and Leo?. The denizens of the mid-spring sky appeal to young and old, and you may learn more about them than you thought you could!

8:15 pm to 9:45 pm = PHYSICAL SCIENCE DEMOS [Main Floor]

A half-dozen stunning demonstrations illustrating a variety of universal science concepts will be indoors for interaction.

8:45 pm to 10:15 pm = VIEWING: MARS? [West Treeline]

The Red Planet is slipping behind the Sun?, not to be seen again until Halloween. Join us for this last programmed Martian viewing.

9:00 pm to 9:10 pm = VISIBLE PASSES: OBJECT B [Back Viewing Pad]

The thing left over six years ago. What is it? We can’t tell you, but at least we can show you! {Predicted magnitude 0.7}.

9:00 pm to 11:00 pm = VIEWING: BEEHIVE CLUSTER [Front Viewing Pad]

This majestic open cluster is of about 1000 Sun?-like and other stars. Many of these stars can be seen from Baton Rouge. Personal binoculars recommended. Distance 577 light-years. Magnitude: 4.0.

9:10 pm to 9:20 pm = VISIBLE PASSES: INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION [Back Viewing Pad]

Human beings have been living and working at this orbiting base since the year 2000! Tonight, we wave hello to some of those brave men and women as we see the ISS soar through the Baton Rouge sky. {Predicted magnitude -2.1}.

9:35 pm to 9:45 pm = VISIBLE PASSES: CHANG ZHENG 2C ROCKET BODY [Back Viewing Pad]

A very reliable launch vehicle for China. There are several in low-Earth? orbit and we’ll see one before it enters the Earth?’s shadow! {Predicted magnitude 1.6}.

10:30 pm to 11:00 pm = VIEWING: Omega Centauri [location to be revealed]

The legendary globular cluster is notoriously elusive from this latitude. It is IAD tradition to attempt a spotting from a savvy vantage point on the grounds, looking through the gaps in the trees. Believe us, it’s worth it! Distance—hold on to your seat—a whopping 18,000 light years. Personal binoculars strongly recommended.

All viewing is weather permitting.

Spooky Sensation Schedule – Highland Road Park Observatory

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There’s a chill in the air—that can only be explained by science at Spooky Sensation – Highland Road Park Observatory. Come join us for a marshmallow roast with eerie true-life STEM stories, a scavenger hunt game to earn wicked prizes, physical science demos that will make you scream, and more.

Attendees can enjoy views of the Sun and all five outer planets: Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. Activities will include the Twilight Deepening, Magnitude Stepdown, Scope-on-a-Rope, and a brief discussion of the mysterious X-37B spaceplane. Other celestial targets include the Pleiades Star Cluster, the double star Albireo, the Job’s Coffin asterism, and the Andromeda Galaxy. 
 
‼️ Due to Phase 3 restrictions, there is a maximum of fifty patrons at one time on-site at HRPO. Because of this, patrons who have been on-site longer than thirty minutes may have their ticket numbers called and be asked to leave. Therefore, please choose your arrival time carefully based on the time spans of all the activities.
 
Spooky Sensation
 

WHAT: Spooky Sensation
WHEN: Saturday, October 3rd, 4:00pm – 10:00pm
WHERE: Highland Road Park Observatory

Spooky Sensation Activity Schedule:

Spooky Sensation 4:15-6:15 p.m. – “Superflare” The author of the most timely Louisiana novel in recent memory, Lisa Calhoun, will be on site to discuss the possibility of CMEs, EMPs and how families can survive and protect themselves in times of civil emergency or duress. [Cost $30.00 per copy]
 
Spooky Sensation 4:15-6:45 p.m. – Train Like an Astronaut = Seven challenging physical demands await those courageous and savvy enough to think they have what it takes to go into Earth orbit and beyond.
 
🐍 4:30-6:30 p.m. – Bluebonnet Swamp Nature Center = The focus is on bugs! Dare you approach?
 
🚀 4:45 p.m. – Rocket Range Bid and Launch #1 = The first Quest Viper will be launched by and then given to the lucky top bidder.
 
🐅 4:45-6:45 p.m. – Baton Rouge Zoo = Well, our counterparts from BRZ are keeping secret which animals they are bringing.
 
⭐ 5-7 p.m. – Payload Bay (daytime cargo) = The new donation reward function at HRPO will yield a plethora of nice prizes and “orbital debris” for those who finish their task sheets first!
 
🚀 5:30 p.m. – Rocket Range Bid and Launch #2 = The second Quest Viper will be launched by and then given to the lucky top bidder.
 
👽 6:00 p.m. – Alienology Arrivals = The legendary 2010 spoof hardcover has “Professor Alan Grey” describe all the aliens known, explain how to spot them on Earth, etc.
 
🚀 6:15 p.m. – Rocket Range Bid and Launch #3 = The third Quest Viper will be launched by and then given to the lucky top bidder.
 
🌟 6:45 p.m. – Glow Stick Acquisitions = There are a limited supply, so grab your red glow stick while they’re here! [Cost $3.25 each]
 
🧪 7:00pm to 9:00pm – Physical Science Demonstrations = This weekend’s selections include the Asteroid Spinning Wheel, the Mirage, the Distance Doodler and a spectrum source!
 
⭐ 7:30- 9:30 p.m. – Payload Bay (nighttime cargo) = The new donation reward function at HRPO will yield a plethora of nice prizes and “orbital debris” for those who finish their task sheets first!
 
🎫 9:00 p.m. – Annual Raffle Drawing = Get your ticket anytime (or any day) before the drawing for your chance to win a telescope, a tabletop scope or a binocular! [Cost $5 per ticket; must be eighteen or older.

Spooky Sensation Event Viewing Schedule:

⭐ 7-10 p.m. – OBJECT: Jupiter
The largest planet has an extremely intense magnetic field and is currently being investigated by the Juno spacecraft. (4.9 astronomical units / magnitude -2.3)
 
⭐ 7:30-10 p.m. – OBJECT: Saturn
The ringed beauty will be seen. Try to spy the Cassini Division, the largest gap in the planet’s ring system. (9.7 astronomical units / magnitude 0.5)
 
⭐ 7:57-8 p.m. – EVENT: Visible Pass of an H-IIA Rocket Body
Part of a Japanese launch system, this piece of space junk should be visible under the correct conditions. Here’s to hoping we have them. (distance 534 kilometers / magnitude 1.7)
 
⭐ 8-8:15 p.m. – ACTIVITY: The Magnitude Scale
HRPO personnel will explain what the magnitude scale is, and then will ultilize the stars Vega, Fomalhaut, Polaris and Albireo to illustrate how dim stars get as one progresses down the ladder of the scale. (distances 25, 25, 431 and 385 light-years respectively / magnitudes 0.0, 1.1, 2.0 and 3.2 respectively)
 
⭐ 8-10 p.m. – EVENT: Ganymede Transits in Front of Jupiter
The largest moon in the Solar System must have known about this night’s celebration. It will give a memorable show by orbiting in front of its parent planet. (Ganymede magnitude 4.9)
 
⭐ 8:15-8:30 p.m – STORY: Great Square of Pegasus
As Pegasus the Winged Horse rises in the east, you’ll hear a story recounted about this majestic mythological creature. (distance of four corners 97 to 335 light-years / magnitudes of four corners 2.0 to 2.8)
 
⭐ 8:15-9 p.m. – OBJECT: The Andromeda Galaxy (Messier 31)
The closest spiral to our own Milky Way is rising high while twilight is ending. Sadly, the local light pollution only allows a view of the galaxy’s core. (distance 2 million light-years / magnitude 4.5)
 
⭐ 8:21-8:25 p.m. – EVENT: Visible Pass of the Lacrosse 4 Rocket
This Titan 4B sent up an American military satellite in August 2000.
(distance 571 kilometers / magnitude 1.3)
 
⭐ 8:30-9 p.m. – OBJECT: The Owl Cluster (Caldwell 13)
A perfect eerie addition to the night’s proceedings. Can you spot the two bright “eyes” of the cluster? (distance 7900? light-years / magnitude 6.4)
 
⭐ 8:40-8:46 p.m. – EVENT: Visible Pass of the Cosmos 2082 Rocket
The Cosmos series of satellites followed the USSR’s Sputniks. This rocket body has been orbiting for over three decades. (distance 844 kilometers / magnitude 2.0)
 
⭐ 8:45-9 p.m. – STORY: Job’s Coffin
The constellation Delphinus the Dolphin harbors the traditional tales of Greek wonder about the mammals of the sea—though the origin of the asterism’s creepy name is lost to the ages. (distances of four corners 98 to 241 light-years / magnitudes of four corners 3.6 to 4.4)
 
⭐ 8:45-9:15 p.m. – OBJECT: The Moth Cluster (Melotte 232)
If at this point you’ve had enough of creepy crawlies, try a flying creepy. This object will require a little patience to allow your eyes to adjust to the dim glow of the cluster. (distance ~2500 light-years / magnitude 6.3)
 
⭐ 8:45-10 p.m. – OBJECT: Mars
Mars is currently the closest it will be to the Earth for the next thirteen years. If the sky is steady and crisp, and your eyes sharp, you may see a polar cap and contrasting surface colors. (distance 62 million kilometers / magnitude -2.5)
 
⭐ 9-9:30 p.m. – OBJECT: Neptune
Although huge, Neptune is also very far away. It’s deep rich blue tone, however, is striking.
(distance 29 astronomical units / magnitude 7.8)
 
⭐ 9:15-10 p.m. – OBJECT: Waning Gibbous Moon
A variety of features await the viewer: rays of ejecta, the Bay of Rainbows and the Marsh of Sleep to name a few. (distance 404,000 kilometers / magnitude -12.5)
 
⭐ 9:45-10 p.m. – OBJECT: The Demon Star
 
The Spooky Sensation closes with the rising of evil. At least that’s what the Ancients thought. Algol was the first eclipsing binary discovered; a companion star periodically blocks some of its light. (magnitude ?? ; It can range from 2.1 to 3.4 ; What do you think it is?)
 
➞All viewing is weather permitting. Visible pass predictions are almost certain to have slight alterations come 3 October.
➞Remember: the lower the magnitude number, the brighter the object.
➞Binocular checkout from HRPO front desk will be available, but there are a limited number. We strongly encourage visitors to bring binoculars.